Locomotive



Jan. 22., 1924; 1,481,316

W. S. GRAY LOCOMOTIVE Filed July 20. 1922 5M9] or.

19 m v 6 M? F Jill Patented Jan. 22, 192d.

1% in ra rent" I WALTER S. GRAY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO GOODMAN, MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

Locor/rorIvE.

Application filed July 20,

T allwhomz'tmag concern: y

Be it known that I, WALTER S. GRAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented an Improvement in Locomotives, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in locomotives and has for its principal obj set to provide an improved geared driving connection between the drivingmotor and a spring suspended axle wherein flexibility of movement of the latter is afforded relative o the'motor and the locomotive frame.

y invention is particularly advantageous in the construction of locomotives of the single motor type, in which two or more spring suspended axles have driving connection with the motor. B the adoption of my improved construction, relative flexibility is afforded between the driving axles to permit, within reasonable limits, vertical and rocking movements thereof relative to each other.

My invention may best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a single motor locomotive constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse crosssection taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 2, but drawn to a larger scale.

In Fig. 1 my invention is shown as applied o a locomotive having a frame 1, a motor 2 and wo axles 3, 3, provided with supporting wheels a, 4. Each of the axles are connected at opposite ends to the locomotive frame 1 by journal boxes 5, 5, moving in vertlcally disposed guides 6, 6, formed in the opposite sides of the frame in the usual manner. Supporting springs 7, 7, are interposed between the frame and the tops of the journal boxes 5, 5.

1922. Serial No. 576,254.

Each axle 3 extends longitudinally through one of said driving members 13, and when said axle is in its normal position, it is substantially concentric with its respective driving member, as shown in Fig. 2. Suitable clearance is provided between the axle 3 and its driving member 13 to allow the desired amount of verticalmovement of the axle and supporting wheel respective to the driving member and frame. Driving connection between each driving member' 13and its axle '3 is afforded by means of a flexible coupling.

In the embodiment illustrated, this flexible coupling is of theOldham type, comprising a perf l' ed plate 15 surrounding the axle 3 and provided with oppositely disposed splines 16, 16, adapted to engage in grooves 17, 17, formed in the lateral face of collar 18 formed integral with the driving member 13. A pair of splines 19, 19, are carried on the opposite side of the plate 15 substantially at right angles to the first mentioned splines 16, 16, and are engaged in grooves 20, 20, formed in the face of a collar 21 keyed on the axle The plate 15 is provided with an elongated aperture 23 through which the axle 3 extends so as to permit lateral movement of said plate respective to said axle in a direction parallel with splines 19, 19, as shown in Fig. 3. The arrangement is Such that the plate 15 is permitted to float or accommodate itself and afford driving connection between collars 18 and 21, either when they are in normal alignment or when out of alignment due to vertical displacement of the axle. Horizontal clearance between the plate 15 and the co-acting collars 18 and 21 is provided to permit limited tilting or rocking of the axle 3 with respect to the driving member 13 and frame. Furthermore, the outer ends of the splines 16, 16, and 19, 19, are also formed convex, as indicated at 2 1 to allow relative freedom of movement of the parts.

It will be observed that the coupling is positioned at the approximate center of the axle. This arrangement is preferred as it permits the maximum displacement of opposite ends of the axle when the latter tilts or rocks in a vertical plane. It will be understood, however, that the coupling may be positioned adjacent one end of the axle or the other, if desired, without materially affecting the function of the device.

The purpose and operation of the mechanism is probably sufficiently understood from the above description in which it will be seen that the two axles have a geared driving connection with the motor mounted on the locomotive frame, but each of the axles is afforded vertical and rocking movement independently of each other and of the frame.

Although it is manifest that substantial relative freedom of movement between the two axles may be afforded if only one of said axles is mounted and driven through the mechanism .above described and the other is mounted rigid with respect to the motor and frame, yet it is preferable in order to afford maximum relative flexibility and spring suspension for both axles to provide both axles with flexible, geared couplings as described. It is furthermore obvious that equivalent forms of flexible coulings can be substituted for the Oldham type of coupling, as for instance, a cou- .pling of the link type might be utilized pended claim.

I claim as my invention:

In a locomotive, a frame, a motor mounted on said frame, two laterally spaced axles, Spring suspension means interposed between said axles and said frame, a pair of hollow driving members rotatably mounted on said frame and having operative connection with said motor, each of said driving members extending longitudinally about one of said xl s but spaced therefrom to permit relative movement thereof in a vertical plane, and a flexible coupling device operatively connecting each of said driving members with itsrespective axle at the approximate center of the latter.

Signed at Chicago, in the county of Cook, and State of Illinois this seventh day of June, 1922.

WVALTER S. GRAY. 

